Trail conditions

Banff National Park

Important information

Be extra cautious when engaging in any activities to avoid injury and/or getting lost to help minimize the demands placed on emergency response, search and rescue teams, and on the health care system.

CAUTION! Avalanche danger

You are responsible for your own safety. Check the Avalanche Bulletin for the latest conditions.


Vehicle parking is limited to designated areas only. Roadside parking is prohibited. Signage and monitoring will be used throughout the park to inform the public of parking restrictions and encourage compliance.


Dogs are allowed on all trails in the summer unless otherwise specified in trail restrictions and closures. Refer to the information below to find out about any special restrictions. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control at all times.

 

Wildlife and you

When you see wildlife, give them space for your safety and their survival. If you’re out on the trails, travel in tight groups of 4 or more, stay alert, make noise, carry bear spray and know how to use it.

Know before you go!

Closures and restrictions

For a complete list of ongoing closures and restrictions, please visit our Important Bulletins page.

For more information, please contact us:

 Banff: 403-762-1550

 Lake Louise: 403-522-3833

Share your trail pictures

Have you been hiking in the last few days? Share a few pictures with us as well as your impressions. This will help us keep this report accurate for other hikers.

 Banff Visitor Centre

 Lake Louise Visitor Centre

Town of Banff Area

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Marsh Loop Fair. 30-05-2023: Frequent Horse Use; Trail details
Easy Fenland Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Easy Spray River West Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Sundance Canyon Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Easy Healy Creek Trail Dry. 28-05-2023: Frequent Horse Use; Trail details
Moderate Sulphur Mountain Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Sulphur Mountain Westside Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Easy Spray River East Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Goat Creek Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail details
Moderate Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Stay on trail; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail details
Moderate Cascade Amphitheatre Trail Mainly Dry. 30-05-2023: Snow patches; Trail details
Moderate Upper Stoney Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Deadfall on trail; Trail details

Lake Minnewanka Area

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Cascade Ponds Loop Good. 30-05-2023: Watch for ticks; Trail is in good condition;  
Easy Johnson Lake Loop Good. 30-05-2023: Watch for ticks; Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate C-Level Cirque Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Mainly dry; Trail details
Easy Stewart Canyon Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Watch for ticks; Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Stewart Canyon–Aylmer Pass Junction Good. 30-05-2023: Watch for ticks; Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Difficult Aylmer Lookout Trail Dry. 30-05-2023: Watch for ticks; Deadfall on trail; Trail details
Difficult Aylmer Pass Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Watch for ticks; Trail details

Banff Area Biking Trails

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Banff Legacy Trail: Banff–Banff East Gate Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Easy Banff Legacy Trail: Vermilion Lakes–Bow Valley Parkway Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Return of the Jedi Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Difficult Topp Notch Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Star Wars Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Tunnel Bench Loop: Coastline Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Tunnel Bench Loop: Teddy Bear's Picnic Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Tunnel Bench Loop: The Spine Good. 30-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details

Bow Valley/Castle Junction Area

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Difficult Cory Pass Loop Road access closed 30-05-2023: Bridge(s) out; Snow patches; Watch for ticks; Trail details
Moderate Bourgeau Lake Trail: Trailhead–Bourgeau Lake Not recommended. 30-05-2023: Snow at high elevation ; Avalanche debris on trail; High water levels at stream crossings; Avalanche danger beyond reaching the lake; Trail details
Moderate Bourgeau Lake Trail: Bourgeau Lake–Harvey Pass Not recommended. 30-05-2023: Snowbound; Trail details
Moderate Healy Pass Trail Mud and snow at higher elevations. 30-05-2023: Wet and muddy sections; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Not recommended; Snow covered sections; Trail details
Easy Johnston Canyon Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Off Trail Use is Prohibited; Stay on trail; Trail details
Moderate Ink Pots Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail details
Moderate Rockbound Lake Trail Not recommended. 28-05-2023: Snowbound at higher elevation; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
Easy Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Trailhead–Vista Lake Good. 28-05-2023: Trail is in good condition; Trail details
Moderate Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Vista Lake–Arnica Lake Mud and snow at higher elevations. 28-05-2023: Snow at high elevation ; Wet and muddy sections; Not recommended; Trail details
Moderate Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Arnica Lake–Twin Lakes Not recommended. 28-05-2023: Snowbound at higher elevation; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
Easy Boom Lake Trail Spring conditions. 28-05-2023: Wet and muddy sections; Snow patches; Trail details
Moderate Castle Lookout Good. 28-05-2023: Watch for ticks; Trail is in good condition; Trail details

Lake Louise Area

Trails at high elevations are snow-covered and may still have avalanche risk.

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Moderate Tramline Trail Good. 18-05-2023: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; Trail details
Difficult Taylor Lake Trail Fair. 30-05-2023: Snow patches; Wet and muddy sections; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Trail details
Easy Bow River Loop Partially Closed 21-05-2023: Trail sections along the west side of Bow River CLOSED from May 15 to October 15; Mainly dry; Deadfall on trail; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail details
Easy Louise Creek Trail Good. 18-05-2023: Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; Trail details
Easy Fairview Lookout Trail Good. 21-05-2023: Mainly dry; Trail details
Easy Great Divide Trail See comment section 30-05-2023: Parking lot closed.; Mainly dry; Trail details
Moderate "Highline" trail to Paradise Creek Fair. 30-05-2023: Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections;  
Moderate Lake Agnes Trail Good. 24-05-2023: Mainly dry; Trail details
Difficult Ross Lake Trail Caution. 28-05-2023: Not yet maintained; Stream crossings; Stream levels are high; Deadfall on trail; Trail details
Moderate Big Beehive Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Trail is narrow and steep. ; Slippery sections; Snow covered sections; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Trail details
Moderate Little Beehive Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Avalanche debris on trail; Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Slippery sections; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Trail details
Moderate Mirror Lake Highline Trail Fair. 30-05-2023: Mainly dry; Wet and muddy sections;  
Moderate Big Beehive to Plain of Six Glaciers Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Avalanche debris on trail; Trail is narrow and steep. ; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Trail details
Moderate Plain of Six Glaciers Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Avalanche debris on trail; Snow covered sections; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Slippery sections; Trail details
Difficult Fairview Mountain Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Snow covered sections; Slippery sections; Stay on trail; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Trail is narrow and steep. ; Trail details
Moderate Saddleback Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Snow patches; Slippery sections; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Trail details
Difficult Sheol/Paradise Connector Trail Caution. 24-05-2023: Snow covered sections; Not yet maintained; Deadfall on trail; Trail details
Moderate Pipestone Trail Good. 28-05-2023: Mainly dry; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
Easy Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Mainly dry; Trail details

Paradise Valley Area

Moraine Lake road is closed. Transportation services begin June 1st. No vehicle access. Avalanche risk! Trails are snow covered.

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Moderate Lake Annette Trail Road access closed 24-05-2023: No vehicle access; Wet and muddy sections; Snow patches; Trail details
Difficult Sentinel Pass - Paradise Valley Connector Trail Road access closed 22-05-2023: Not recommended; Avalanche danger at high altitude; Snowbound at higher elevation; No vehicle access; Trail details
Difficult Paradise Valley and Giant Steps Trail Road access closed 24-05-2023: No vehicle access; Snow covered sections; Wet and muddy sections; Not yet maintained; Trail details

Moraine Lake Area

Moraine Lake road is closed. Transportation services begin June 1st. No vehicle access. Trails at high elevations are snow-covered and may still have avalanche risk.

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Consolation Lakes Trail Road access closed 22-05-2023: No vehicle access; Snow covered sections; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
Easy Rockpile Trail Road access closed 21-05-2023: No vehicle access; Mainly dry; Trail details
Difficult Moraine Lake Highline Trail Road access closed 24-05-2023: No vehicle access; Not yet maintained; Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
Easy Moraine Lakeshore Trail Road access closed 21-05-2023: No vehicle access; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
Moderate Eiffel Lake Trail Road access closed 22-05-2023: No vehicle access; Snow at high elevation ; Trail details
Moderate Larch Valley/Minnestimma Lakes Trail Road access closed 22-05-2023: No vehicle access; Snow at high elevation ; Trail details
Difficult Sentinel Pass Trail Road access closed 24-05-2023: No vehicle access; Snow covered sections; Trail details
Difficult Wenkchemna Pass Trail Road access closed 24-05-2023: Not recommended; Snowbound at higher elevation; No vehicle access; Trail details

Icefields Parkway Area

Trails at high elevations are snow-covered and may still have avalanche risk.

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Moderate Mosquito Creek Trail Fair. 24-05-2023: Wet and muddy sections;  
Difficult Molar Pass Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Snow at high elevation ; Wet and muddy sections; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Trail details
Difficult North Molar Pass Trail Not recommended. 30-05-2023: Snow at high elevation ; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
Moderate Helen Lake Trail Fair. 30-05-2023: Wet and muddy sections; Stream crossings; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Snow at high elevation ; Trail details
Difficult Dolomite Pass Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Snow at high elevation ; Stream crossings; Wet and muddy sections; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Trail details
Moderate Bow Glacier Falls Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Wet and muddy sections; Difficult route finding ; Trail washed out in sections; Extensive trail erosion; Trail details
Easy Peyto Lake Viewpoint Trail Good. 30-05-2023: Mainly dry; Trail details
Easy Bow Summit Lookout Trail Fair. 30-05-2023: Snow at high elevation ; Trail details
Moderate Chephren Lake Trail Fair. 30-05-2023: Not yet maintained; Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; Mainly dry; Trail details
Moderate Cirque Lake Trail Fair. 30-05-2023: Not yet maintained; Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; Mainly dry; Trail details
Difficult Glacier Lake Trail Good. 24-05-2023: Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; Trail details
Easy Mistaya Canyon Trail Good. 16-05-2023: Mainly dry; Trail details
Difficult Sarbach Lookout Trail Poor. 30-05-2023: Not yet maintained; Numerous trees down on trail; Trail details
Moderate Sunset Lookout Trail Early season conditions. 30-05-2023: Not yet maintained; Trail details
Moderate Sunset Pass Trail Early season conditions. 24-05-2023: Not yet maintained; Deadfall on trail; Snow covered sections; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
Moderate Nigel Pass Trail Caution. 30-05-2023: Stream crossings; Stream levels are high; Wet and muddy sections; Snow patches; Trail details
Difficult Parker Ridge Trail See comment section 30-05-2023: Snow covered sections; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Wet and muddy sections; Trail details
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